Look: Jiu-jitsu world champ Meggie Ochoa visits anti-mining campers

Three-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Meggie Ochoa visited Tuesday the camp of the protesting residents of Manicani Island, Eastern Samar and Sta. Cruz, Zambales picketed in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Quezon City.

The Manicani islanders, who have been picketing in Quezon City for almost a month, are calling for the closure of open-pit mining operations of Hinatuan Mining Corporation, which has been operating since 1992 and was suspended in 2002 but was permitted by the DENR to continue its loading operations.

According to Marcial Somooc, president of Save Manicani Movement, Hinatuan Mining has practically destroyed the environment of the 12 square kilometer island of 3,000 people. His group has been calling for rehabilitation and reparation of the island.

Nickel mining is also being opposed in Santa Cruz, the northernmost town of Zambales, wherein residents blocked mining trucks of the Zambales Diversified Mining Corporation in the first three months of 2016.